Shoe disinfectant device



June 6,1950 I J, MALBERG 2,510,315

SHOE DISINFECTANT nE vIcE' Filed Jan. 29, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTDR June 6, 1950 J. E. MALBERG SHOE DISINFECTANT DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 29, 1948 FIG. 6

FIG. 7

- INVENTDR. .JUSEPH E. MfiLBERE ATTYS.

Patented June 6, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHOE DISINFECTANT DEVICE Joseph E. Malberg, Cleveland, Ohio Application January 29, 1948, Serial No. 5,023

6 Claims.

This application relates to shoe disinfectant devices, especially devices of such type as are adapted to be inserted into a shoe to aid in retaining same in a desired shape and to function simultaneously as a carrier or storage receptacle for a disinfectant material.

Heretofore there have been one or two crude suggestions regarding the use of disinfectant materials in association with shoe trees or similar articles, such as shoe pads. These previous types of constructions have not been satisfactory for any of a number of reasons among which are that special types of shoe trees were required, the difficulty in replacing or inserting the disinfectant material into the shoe tree, the high cost of the construction, etc.

The general object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved type of a shoe disinfectant device which is characterized by its ability to be made by minor adjustment of a conventional shoe tree device.

Another object of the invention is to provide a low cost shoe disinfectant device which can easily have disinfectant material associated therewith.

A further object of the invention is to provide a shoe disinfectant device which is adapted to have air circulate freely within the shoe and by the disinfectant material contained in the device.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will be made apparent as the specification proceeds.

Reference is now' made to the accompanying drawings, wherein: a

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a shoe disinfectant device embodying the principles of the invention,

showing such a device associated with the shoe;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan of the device of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the device of Fig. 2 taken on the line 33 thereof;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the disinfectant containing means of the invention;

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan of a modification of the invention;

Fig. '7 is a vertical section taken on the line 'I! of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a vertical section taken on the line 88 of Fig. 7.

Attention is now directed to the details of the structure shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein a conventional shoe tree is shown in association with a shoe I I. The shoe tree shown comprises a conventional toe engaging member I2, which is usually formed from sheet material and is of generally arcuate contour in transverse section, a heel engaging member I3 and a wire connector member I4 that is pivotally secured between the toe engaging member I2 and the heel engaging member I3. Fig. 1 best shows that a plurality of holes I0 are provided in the heel engaging member I3 to provide a plurality of connector holes by which the connector member l4 engages with the heel engaging member [3 to vary the length of the shoe tree. Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawing best show that the toe engaging member I2 has a flange 44 formed at its lower edge and this flange is turned inwardly of the member. These figures also show that the foremost portion of the toe engaging member I2 is of gradually reducing width and height so as to provide a closed or solid portion of such memher that smoothly blends in with the contour of the remainder of the member.

As an important feature of the invention, a perforate partition member I5 with a tongue 5 formed thereon is secured to the top inner surface of the toe engaging member I2 in a fixed manner. The specific means shown for engaging the partition member I5 to the toe engaging member comprises a pair of lips I1 that are struck up from the tongue I6 and which are adapted to be folded over through holes I8 formed in the toe engaging member. A saddle I9 is also formed on the tongue I6 intermediate the lip I1 for journaled engagement with the connector member I4 to secure the connector member pivotally to the assembly formed of thetoe engaging member I2 and the partition member [5. It will be observed that the partition member I5 is received within the lateral margin of the toe engaging member I2 and that a plurality of holes 2| are formed in the partition member to permit circulation of air therethrough. So as to form a portion of an enclosure within the toe engaging member I2, a side member 22 is positioned within the toe engaging member I2. The side member 22 usually is formed from a suitable length of strip material and is of substantially c-shape in horizontal section when in proper shape for engagement with the toe engaging member I2. The side member 22 is adapted to be positioned within the toe engaging member l2 with the open ends of the side member extending rearwardly of the shoe disinfectant device. These end sections of the side member may be engaged with the partition member I5 in any desired manner and abut there against for this purpose. The side member 22 is shown as having substantially U-shaped end sections 23 which are open outwardly of the toe engaging member I2. These end sections 23 are adapted to receive therein inwardly turned flanges 24 formed along the vertical edges of the partition member l5. Of course, the upper edge of the side member 22 is adapted to abut against, or lie closely adjacent to, the inner surface of the toe engaging. member I2.

So as to close the partial enclosure formed by the side member 22 and partition member 15 when associated with the toe engaging member I2, a perforate cover 25 is hingedly securedto the lower edge of the partition member I5. The cover 25 may be engaged with the partition member in any desired manner and a hinge pintle 26 is shown provided for this purpose, which .pintle engages with integral hinge sections formed on complementary portions of the partition member andside-member. The front end of the cover 25 is provided with an upwardly-directed locking lip-*2? which isof general arcuate shape and extends inwardly of the cover 25 a short distance so as to engage in a releasable manner with the lower edge of the front portion of the side member 22. If desired, a slight recess may be formed in such portion of the side member so as to facilitate its engagement with the lip 21.

'A- modified-form of the device of the invention is shown in Figs. 6 through 8 where even less change is required in a conventional shoe tree device than with the structure shown in the other figures of the invention. In these figures, a toe engaging member H2, a heel engaging -member H3 and a connector member IM are provided. 'lhetoe engaging member II2 has an inwardly turned flange Idil formed around its lower edge. This flange Mil is-of maximum width along'the lateral and forward portions of the member l l2. A partition-member! I5 is provided andisreceived within the margins of the member H2 and-has a tongue H6 extending therefrom and lyingagainst the inner surface of the member M 2. The tongue H6 has lips Ill formed the'reonby which' the tongue and partition member. are secured to the member H2. A saddle H9 is formed on'the tongue. IE6, as in the previous embodiment of the invention to facilitate engagement of the member H5 with the connector member Md. In-this instance, the lower surface of the partition member -I I5 is of arcuate contour extending transversely of the member H2 and the lower edge portions of the partition member IIE-ar-eimmediately adjacent and above the flanges I46, being slidably carried thereon. Inorder-to'forma closure for the partition member ll-5 and the toe engaging member H2; a cover plate i25 is provided for releasable engagementwith these portions of the shoe disinfectantldevice. The cover plate !25 is of an arcuatecontour'transversely of the member H2 and is formed of complementary shape to the inner-sruface of the-member H2 with which the cover engages. The cover E25 may have-a downwardly directed flange lZE' formed on the rear portion-thereof and a control button or knob l2! may-be associated with the flange I26 to facilitate withdrawal of the cover plate from engagement-with thetoeengagingmember-I I2 and partition member II 5.

As indicated-the cover I25, partition 1 ember 'Haiand toe engaging member IE2 cooperate to form an enclosure which is-adaptedto receive a solid disinfectant member therein. As such disinfectant volatilizes and disappears with the passage of time, the cover I25 may be easily removed for insertion of an new block of disinfectant material into the shoe disinfectant device. The toe engaging member IIZ may have holes I28 formed therein, the partition member has holes I 29 formed therein, and the cover plate I25 has holes I3I formed therein, all of which holes cooperate .to permit free air-circulation around the block of disinfectant material positioned within the device of the invention. One of such blocks is indicated at B in Fig. '7. Circulation of air around the disinfectant block is facilitated due to the arcuate contour of the cover plate I25 so that evenwhen such toe engaging device is in snug engagement with the inside of the toe portionof .theshoegthe cover plate I25 is spaced from theshoe at the bridging portion of the cover plate.

It will be seen that-the partition members I5 and I I5"- may be secured withinthe toeengaging memberin any-clesired'manner but that formation of integral tongues these members simplifies the method'of attachment of such partition members to the remainder of the device when such tongues are used-both=to secure the partit-io-n-members-to the toe engaging members'and also'to attach the toe engaging members to'the connector members of the shoe disinfectant device.

Any'desired disinfectantmay be-used and generally the disinfectant should have a small amount of suitable perfume, such as pine oil, mixed therewith-toma-lze itsodor more pleasant.

Disinfectants, such as formaldehyde gas disks,

paradichlorobenzene, and di-isobutyl' -cresoxy ethoxyethyl dim'ethyl benzyl ammonium chloride (H-yamine III-X) are-examples-of suitable materials that could be used with the shoe disinfectant device of' the invention.

Normally the shoe-tree portion of the'device of the invention" will be formed from conventionalmaterial, such-as-sheet-metal and wire'and the partition members, covers, etc, are also formed from sheet metal. However,-the partition-members, sides, covers, etc., may be formed in anydesired manner and plastic material or other substanccscoul'clbeused to form'these portions of the-device since they do not carry any great stress thereon.

By useof the construction of the invention, shoes can'be kept clean and'freefrom objectionable germs without wetting the shoeby a disinfectant} While two complete embodiments of the invention have been disclosed herein, it will be appreciated'that modification of these particular embodiments of theinvention may beresorted'to withoutdeparting 'from'the scope of the invention as defined by the appended" claims.

Having thus described my'in'ven'tion, what I claim isz l. A shoe tree comprising a toe engaging memberg ah'cel engaging member, means pivotally connecting said members together, said toe engagingmember being of substantially inverted U-shape in section and having an inwardly extending flange formed atits lower edges, a vertically extending partition member secured to said toe engaging member at the rear portion thereof, and a removable plate member adapted to engage'slidably with said flanges and form anenclosure with'said toe engaging member and said partition member.

2. A shoe tree comprising a heel engaging member, a toe engaging member having substantially arcuate upper and lower surfaces, a. wire member pivotally secured to said heel engaging member, a partition member fixedly associated with said toe engaging member and extending from the lower arcuate surface thereof but lying within the confines'of such member, said partition member having a tongue formed thereon, said tongue being pivotally engaged with said wire member, and a cover plate slidably engaged with said partition member and toe engaging member for forming an enclosure therewith for the reception of disinfectant material, said cover plate being of 'arcuate shape in transverse section to space the center section thereof from a shoe with which it is engaged.

3. A shoe tree comprising a heel engaging member, a toe engaging member having substantially arcuate upper and lower surfaces, a connector member pivotally secured to said heel engaging member, a partition member fixedly associated with said toe engaging member and extending from the lower arcuate surface thereof but lying within the confines of such member, said partition member being pivotally engaged with said connector member, and a cover plate removably engaged with said partition member and toe engaging member for forming an enclosure therewith for the reception of disinfectant material, said cover plate having apertures therein for air and gas flow therethrough.

4. A shoe tree comprising a heel engaging member, a toe engaging member having substantially arcuate upper and lower surfaces, a connector member pivotally secured to said heel engaging member, a partition member fixedly associated with said toe engaging member on the lower arcuate surface thereof but lying within the confines of such member, said partition member and said toe engaging member forming a downwardly open enclosure, said partition member being pivotally engaged with said connector member, and a cover plate associated with the lower edge of said partition member for closing the bottom of the enclosure and adapting it to receive disinfectant material therein.

5. In a shoe disinfectant device, a toe engaging member insertable within a shoe, said toe engaging member being of substantially inverted U-shape in section, a vertically extending partition member secured to and within said toe engaging member, a cover plate hingedly secured to the lower end of said partition member, and a side member of substantially C-shape in horizontal section, the ends of said side member being engaged with said partition member, the upper edges of said side member being substantially adjacent the lower surface of said toe engaging member, said cover plate being of such size as to engage with the lower edge of said side member and form an enclosure therewith.

6. In a shoe disinfectant device, a toe engaging member insertable within a shoe, said toe engaging member being of substantially inverted U-shape in section, a vertically extending partition member secured to said toe engaging member, a cover plate associated with the lower end of said partition member, and a side member of substantially C-shape in horizontal section and being secured to said partition member to form part of an enclosure therewith, said cover plate being of such size and being adapted to engage with the lower edge of said side member and form an enclosure therewith.

JOSEPH E. MALBERG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,086,705 Havener Feb. 10, 1914 1,552,082 Riley Sept. 1, 1925 2,230,469 Salin Feb. 4, 1941 

